Samsung Galaxy S 5 Coming in Spring: 10 Prominent Rumors

Samsung Galaxy S 5 Coming in Spring: 10 Prominent Rumors

by Don Reisinger

Expect a New Look and Feel

Speaking to Bloomberg, Lee said that consumers should expect a new design from the Galaxy S 5. The Galaxy S 3 and Galaxy S 4 essentially came with the same design, and it's time for a refresh, Lee says. The nature of that refresh, according to the rumor mill, has ranged from minor changes to a radical redesign.

An Iris-Scanning Feature Will Bolster Security

According to a few recent reports, Samsung is planning to launch "iris recognition technology" with the Galaxy S 5. That technology will take on Apple's biometric fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S and allow users to open and possibly control their devices by scanning their eyes. One note: It's believed other companies are planning eye-scanning technology for their own smartphones in 2014.

Will It Come With a Full-Metal Jacket?

There's an ongoing debate over the material Samsung plans to use with the Galaxy S 5. Some reports have said the device will come with a full metallic body, while others say Samsung will opt for a part-metal, part-plastic casing. Either way, it appears metal will be incorporated into its design in some way.

There Will Be a 64-Bit CPU Inside

This shouldn't be much of a surprise, but several rumors say that Samsung will build a 64-bit Exynos processor into the Galaxy S 5. Apple started the 64-bit craze with the iPhone 5S, and now Samsung, LG and others are expected to respond with 64-processors in their top models. That should mean overall better application performance for the Galaxy S 5.

A Higher-Def High-Def Display Seems Likely

During the interview with Bloomberg, Lee wouldn't say what size screen or resolution the Galaxy S 5 will have, but Lee seemed to indicate that it will be a step above what's built into the previous model. Recent reports have said the device will feature a 5.2-inch display that comes with a staggering 2,560-by-1,440-pixel resolution. Other rumors say it'll have a 1080p screen. Here's hoping it's the former.

The Choice of User Interface Remains Uncertain

Until CES, it was believed that Samsung was working on an improved version of its TouchWiz user interface in the Galaxy S 5. All that changed, however, after the company showed off the TabPro and NotePro tablets with the Magazine UX design that looks far different from TouchWiz. Now some reports suggest Samsung will go with Android 4.4 (KitKat) and the Magazine UX with the Galaxy S 5.

A High-End Camera Seems Likely

Expect the Galaxy S 5 to come equipped with a high-end camera. Nearly every rumor surrounding the device has said that the handset will come with a 16-megapixel camera, capable of delivering large photos at a nice resolution. That might not be on the level of Nokia's PureView, but it'll be a nice addition to an already high-end device.

Some Rumors Say the S5 Will Have a Fingerprint Scanner Too

Will Samsung double-dip on the biometric front? Some rumors suggest that Samsung will invest in both iris scanning and fingerprint sensors. It seems unlikely that Samsung would bundle both technologies into the smartphone, but biometrics are the future of mobile security, so it's certainly possible.

AT&T Will Be an Early Supporter

AT&T is reportedly already testing the Galaxy S 5, which isn't much of a surprise, considering AT&T has sold Samsung handsets for years. It's believed at this point that the Galaxy S 5 will hit AT&T store shelves first and then make its way to other carriers after that. Neither Samsung nor AT&T, however, has confirmed that's the case.

Galaxy S 5 Will Reach the Market Before Summer

So when will the Galaxy S 5 hit store shelves? It depends on whom you believe. Some reports say the device could be available as early as March, while others say it will come out in April or May. Either way, it's apparent that the Galaxy S 5 will be available this spring in the U.S.

Samsung Executive Vice President of Mobile Lee Young Hee stoked the rumor mill on Jan. 8, telling Bloomberg at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that Samsung has some new and interesting plans for the Galaxy S 5 smartphone. Although Lee wouldn't get into the specifics, Samsung has all but confirmed the Galaxy S 5 and says it'll be a major departure from its predecessor, the S 4. All this talk has Android fans excited. Over the last several months, rumors have been swirling around the Galaxy S 5. As Samsung's flagship handset, the device is designed to be the company's best answer to the iPhone. Apple sees Samsung's handsets as enough of a threat that it has waged a relentless patent campaign against its smartphone rival. Over the past couple of years, Samsung has watched its star rise in the mobile space in large part because of the Galaxy S franchise. To say that there is a lot riding on the Galaxy S 5 would be an understatement. Chances are that Samsung will roll out the Galaxy S 5 around the time of or during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 24-27. Until then, this eWEEK slide show will look at some of the recent chatter about the features of the Galaxy S 5.